TV Review: THE FLASH: Season 1, Episode 5: Plastique [The CW]

The CW’s The Flash Plastique TV Show Review. The Flash: Season 1, Episode 5: Plastique takes us a few steps closer to seeing Barry (Grant Gustin) fully develop into the super hero we know he can be. We are also introduced to a new explosive character.

Five episodes in and we finally get to see Barry actually having fun with his new family. Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdes) and Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) join him for a night of darts, tequila shots and cold beer. Iris West (Candice Patton) and her boyfriend Eddie Thawe (Rick Cosnett) are also out with them having a great time. Now to be honest, after the episode with Felicity Smaok (Emily Bett Rickards) it’s hard to see Barry still hung up on Iris. High school is out. He even got to smooch Felicity before she returned to her own TV show. That’s pretty cool in my book. Then there is Iris. How is it a smart woman like this cannot see Barry is in love with her and even her father can? This is something for the show writers to think about. It was cute but the story lines are going to have to play grown up now.

The introduction to Plastique (Kelly Frye) was pretty smooth. There are many ways a character with such explosive talents can make an introduction. After getting caught breaking into the file room of the Veterans Affairs office, she gives a security guard the kiss off and almost blows up an entire floor. The Flash responds to the commotion contemplating how to save a window washer– who is hanging on for dear life on the side of the building the explosion erupted on. What we find out is The Flash can run so fast he can scale a tall building and rescue a full-grown man in seconds. Yes, that was most impressive. It was also very cool to see Cisco and Caitlin assist him. The best part about this setup happens when Iris enters the scene and sees the Flash in action. Now she has the proof she was looking for.

General Wade Eiling (Clancy Brown) is a character we will not soon forget. He is much more than just a pushy General; he has an active past with both Plastique and Dr. Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh). I knew when this dangerous man came on the scene someone was bound to die. Having Barry get to save her from the General during his second encounter with her was clever. It appears Barry has a habit of getting very fond of people real quick. This is a nice trait and feeds into him being so trusting. Bringing Plastique back to the S.T.A.R.S. lab so the team can run some tests on her posed an interesting question. This character is very powerful and is actually a good woman, but because of her disposition she is far too dangerous to become part of their team. To me this meant this woman was to remain a lone Samurai…going around trying to kill the people who turned her into this abomination.

In the middle of Barry and team dealing with this new character and General, Iris is building up steam with her blog about The Flash. I like the fact that Detective Joe West (Jesse L. Martin) wants Barry to try and stop her for her own safety. When Joe reveals he knows that Barry is in love with iris, this takes their relationship to another level. If anything, Joe would actually love to see Iris and Barry together. We know this can never happen of course but it creates good tension. After basically begging iris to stop writing the piece, he decides that they need to take a break from their friendship. I’m not sure this was a good move. Iris chose the article over her friendship with Barry. He has know her since they were kids and should know after this woman goes after something she is not going to back down. I guess this little break will give Barry time to assess his relationship with iris…what’s realistic and what’s not. In the meantime the way he disguises his voice from iris as the Flash is pretty nifty. Who would have known you could make the vocal chords vibrate that fast to change your voice. Maybe Barry can get Clancy Brown (who is the voice of Mister Crabs on Spongebob Squarepants) to get him some voice over work.

The episode starts off with narration about friendship and the irony here is Barry’s relationship ends with Plastique after a final encounter with the General. The thing to note here…is Dr. Wells was the one to send her in to kill the General. He manipulated her and as she lay dying she almost imparts some news to Barry about the mysterious Dr. Wells. So all is not what it seems in paradise. Wells has a very interesting past with the general that deals with test subjects. With Plastique dead and General Eiling leaving somehow I get the feeling we haven’t seen the last of him. Another solid episode in the bank and now I can breathe again.

Leave your thoughts on this review and this episode of The Flash below in the comments section. For more The Flash reviews, photos, videos, and information, visit our The Flash Page, subscribe to us by Email, “follow” us on Twitter, Tumblr, or “like” us on Facebook. The Flash: Season 1, Episode 5: Plastique airs on The CW on November 11, 2014.

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About the author

Brian Fire

Brian is a screenwriter and visual fx Artist who loves science fiction, drama and follows many TV shows. He is a versatile writer who is published and has written copy for: CompUsa, The California State Lottery and Princess Cruise lines. Every year he attends The Sundance Film Festival and the San Diego Comic Con filling up on his other passions…indie films, comic books and video games.